| High Jump's Mission
High Jump equalizes access to education for middle school students who have exhibited academic ambition and potential and who are of limited economic means. We provide academic enrichment, counseling and support to students of diverse backgrounds, with the goal of sending our participants to superior college preparatory schools, ensuring their success while they are there, and enhancing their ability to gain admission to highly regarded four-year colleges and universities.
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Message from
Executive Director Lee Hart
Charged up. Amazed. Honored. That's a brief sample of the phrases my friends and colleagues around the country have been hearing from me since I joined the High Jump team as Executive Director. I look forward to getting to know you all better as we continue to grow and expand the reach and impact of this wonderful program. Each of you have been instrumental in the historical success of High Jump and I know that you are all integral parts of its future. Together, we will deepen High Jump's impact and extend our reach.
I believe High Jump is a powerful force in the effort to break down educational barriers and level the playing field for Chicago's middle school students. I found my professional commitment to college access and college success through years of teaching, helping lead the Urban Scholars Program at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and, most recently, at Citizen Schools. We're recruiting across Chicago now for Cohort 24 - wow! As we make this push, I invite you all to share in some of the great happenings within our community. Also, I welcome you to come visit us at our new offices in the Latin Middle School. Over the coming months, I hope to be able to share with you my hopes for High Jump as we continue to foster the dreams of determined learners and future leaders. Thank you again for your continued support and I look forward to seeing you in the near future. Best wishes,
Lee Hart
Executive Director
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We Knew You When...
Eliza Ramirez, Cohort 8 Alumna
High Jump  Cohort 8 Alumna Eliza Ramirez has earned her apple. Eliza's exceptional teaching is being honored during the 26th Annual Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching.
Since 1986, Golden Apple has recognized excellence in teaching by choosing 10 Illinois teachers to join the Golden Apple Academy.
High Jump first met Eliza as a 6th grader at Santa Maria Addolorata Elementary School in Chicago's West Town. Through High Jump, she was exposed to many of the nation's best college preparatory schools, eventually choosing the Latin School of Chicago where she graduated in 2002. From there, she went onto the University of Chicago and graduated from their Urban Teacher Education Program in 2007. She currently teaches 7th Grade Reading and Writing at the Emiliano Zapata Academy in Little Village.
Eliza credits the education she has received at each institution for transforming her "from thinking she was the kid with all the right answers to the teacher who poses difficult questions to compel students to think and respond dimensionally."
Eliza shared her gratitude for the High Jump program: "I've often given High Jump credit privately, but I've been given an opportunity to make mention of High Jump in a more public way while receiving this award." See Eliza receive her award at the 26th Annual Golden Apple Awards for Excellence on WTTW. It will air during the following times: Thursday, November 10, 8PM WTTW Channel 11 Friday, November 11, 2PM WTTW Prime Saturday, November 12, 4AM WTTW Channel 11 Sunday November 13, 2PM WTTW Channel 11 Please join us in congratulating Eliza on her accomplishment and being a beacon for High Jump and Zapata Academy students seeking to emulate her path to success.
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High Jump Into the High School Fair
 What do you get when you combine over 175 students and parents, 49 prestigious institutions, and four intensive and interactive workshops?
As Cohort 22 member Dominque Segovia said, "An event that completely changed the way I thought about high schools."
On October 22, High Jump brought students, parents, and high school representatives together for one of the most important events of a middle school student's academic career. At the High Jump Annual High School Fair, families met with a mix of boarding schools, independent/private schools, parochial, selective enrollment public schools and scholarship organizations. For many students, the High Jump High School fair plays an important role as their home schools can no longer host their own fairs. As Nydia Monroy (Cohort 22) said, "Without High Jump, I probably would not know about many of these schools." Her father, Jorge Monroy (also father to Cohort 21 Alumna and current Phillips Exeter Academy student Valeria Monroy) shares this sentiment: "Having the opportunity to interact one-on-one with school representatives is great. Students have the chance to look at the schools and, later on at home, review the material... rather than just seeing it on the website."
In the morning, 8th grade students and their families attended four information workshops. "How to Apply to High Schools" featured presentations on the different types of schools available to students and included presentations by representatives from the Latin School of Chicago, The Lawrenceville School, Holy Trinity School, and Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. "Decoding Financial Aid" featured presentations by Lake Forest Academy and Francis W. Parker. Discussion of financial options continued in "Scholarship Opportunities" with information provided by representatives from the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund, LINK Unlimited, and HighSight. Finally, students were given keen insight from Concord Academy and Taft School in "Preparing for Your High School Interview." |
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HIGH JUMP
59 W. North Blvd. :: Chicago, IL 60610
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